Here is another tale of Mystery Shopping:

As instructed, for the "Blue" bank mystery shops, fake names may be used.

So, remembering this and, becoming tired of using my old "nom de plume" (as such) of "Pat Benetar", I decided to use an Anne Rice character's name.

All seemed to go well. The banker introduced himself. He asked my name, I murmured it quietly. He asked how he could assist me. I explained to the banker the scenario as required by the MSC, he looked up, blinked and then explained how his bank offered the service. It was really well presented in the short time that I sat down with him. He offered me the required materials, I did not have to ask. I thanked him and readied myself to leave.

But then, as I got up, once again, he asked me my name and I responded without hesitation the Anne Rice character name. This time quite clearly.

His jaw dropped, just for a moment, he recovered.

Looking me in the eye, the banker winked at me and said, "well then, if you see Lestat, please say bonjour! Strong women are absolutely unpredictable.”

I'm sure my face was a deep shade of red. I giggled in spite of myself. He smiled, his eyes crinkling beautifully.

I think we both new what had happened.

But, in the end, are not those required scenarios the true tip off?

Besides, why not have a bit of fun while performing the shop?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2017 12:31PM by French Farmer.

Hopefully it doesn’t result in an invalidated report! Is it possible?

@Hoju wrote:

Hopefully it doesn’t result in an invalidated report! Is it possible?

Well, I cannot see anything done that was wrong: I didn't tell him who I was (a mystery shopper), he didn't ask, I reported the shop as instructed, following the MSC's guidelines and gave him a good review (which he did do).

We'll see!

I used to do a lot of blue banks but not son much anymore since the 30 mile rule was started. Fewer banks to visit. In any case, I offer just my first name when asked. On rare occasion I am asked my last name and the first time that happened immediately said "Johnson" , so that is my bogus last name. One banker ran the name through her computer and found a Jake Johnson who lived 30 or so miles away and remarked that was not me. Another time I said I was Shane and much to my surprise the banker said "like the cowboy"? I was surprised because that was a movie from the 50' or 60's and the banker looked to be in his 30's.

I agree, have a little fun on these shops.

As long as the OP did everything required according to her instructions, as it seems she did, a wink from the banker would not warrant in invalid report, even if he thought she was a shopper. One of the local banks I shop monthly requires ONLY a 30 day rotation. The report changes only slightly and many times I shop the same rep. and never sign up for the checking account.

Invalid, nah. As long as you don't give yourself up you're OK. I don't remember anything in the instructions about thinking the banker recognized you only if you admit it.

Someone flirting is as natural as Mystery shopping is unnatural. I have a Butcher that always runs out from behind the counter and starts in with me. I'm always polite and find out the best buy of the day, keeping the talk towards cooking...if I were interested, who's to know....

I had one blue-bank shop where the banker point-blank accused me of being a shopper, and wasn't very professional about it. I just looked at him blankly and continued with the scenario. I reported what happened, including the unprofessional bits, and still got paid.

I think you're right--as long as you don't 'fess up, you're OK.

@shopping45 wrote:

I had one blue-bank shop where the banker point-blank accused me of being a shopper, and wasn't very professional about it. I just looked at him blankly and continued with the scenario. I reported what happened, including the unprofessional bits, and still got paid.

I think you're right--as long as you don't 'fess up, you're OK.

I will never understand the fools that do that. If you suspect someone is your shopper, do everything in your power to be a model employee. Don’t fudge it all up by trying to blow their cover. Damn fools.

I agree, Hoju! I think it's sometimes a power or ego issue. They think shoppers are out to "bust" them personally, rather than thinking we are just trying to make money by doing the job we are assigned with timeliness, fairness and accuracy.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2017 06:45PM by sun&fun.

I have one banker at those gool ole blue banks that always says in snarky things like, "Are you here for disclosures again!?" and "Will we see you again next month!?" I just said in a low voice, "Maybe." Whats a mystery shopper!? I mean, its obvious she knows who I am... I just am not going to admit it. Then have another sweetheart nabker who always gets her "cheat sheet" out to make sure she is doing everything correctly for the scenerio. I would take her kind all day long. I live in about three major areas, so I try to toate myself around each month. Then, the bankers transfer to other locations... oh yes! Joy! Its like you just know that they know.... hehe win some, lose some.

Its like too. well if ya know I am a mystery shopper, aren't ya glad that you know so you can do a great job!? Looks like they would like repeaters hehe

This has never ceased to amaze me, why in the world would the client and MSC not put in some reasonable rotations? Not many people even go into most bank branches anymore. When a lot of branches probably don't get more than 100 people over the course of an average month, how hard is it to recognize the same person with the same questions month after month?

Something is going on to have the client not give a rat's arse if their employees can spot the shopper and it is not mystery shopping.

It could just be a head in the sand mentality. Hey look! We’re doing great. Now let’s not question why. And i should get a bonus for running a program that produces such positive results.
That sorta thing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2017 08:00PM by Hoju.

Ya got me!! But they're EASY, pay well and there are many in my area. I have what I would call a fair amount of shoppers in my area and I almost always can pick & choose the bank shops I want. . . . . go figure : )!

KSS is famous for scheduling the same person at the same bank...asleep at the wheel.

I'm confused as to why a shopper would use a name of a book character, celebrity, singer, etc? I mean, Pat Benetar? I suppose someone other than the 80s singer could be named Pat Benetar, but what are the odds? When I do bank shops I give them my first name and my sister's married last name. I think if I told the banker my name was Kim Kardashian or Marilyn Monroe I'd probably get a wink too. I wouldn't recommend using a celeb name.

I do a regional chain of banks that requires a different name for each shop. After the time I forgot my name was 'Susan' and didn't respond when they called it I always use my correct first name and a different last name, which I usually figure out by looking at the street names and milestones on the way to the bank.

Nothing is better than having someone you spoke to on the phone look you dead in the eye and say, "What was your name again?" While trying to hide that deer in the headlights look I am thinking to myself, "That's a really good question."

@DareWright wrote:

I'm confused as to why a shopper would use a name of a book character, celebrity, singer, etc? I mean, Pat Benetar? I suppose someone other than the 80s singer could be named Pat Benetar, but what are the odds? When I do bank shops I give them my first name and my sister's married last name. I think if I told the banker my name was Kim Kardashian or Marilyn Monroe I'd probably get a wink too. I wouldn't recommend using a celeb name.

Although I do appreciate your advice, I have my own reasons - maybe you think them odd.

Here is one: When I perform one of these bank shops, I have a difficult time lying about my reasons for stopping in - it just seems deceitful.
Therefore, I tell myself that I'm performing the shop as an actor. Giving myself a memorable name makes it easier for me than using my own first name and a whatever name for last or vice versa.
I find this eases my mind and I can "freelance" a bit with information. I also find it much simpler to explain my name if the banker asks (only happened once - another story for another time).
In this particular situation, I believe the tipoff to the banker was the scenario as described in the shopper guidelines that I had to give as the reason being there.
So, we both became actors in a scene without an audience.

Flirting? You bet!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/04/2017 12:31PM by French Farmer.

FF, Whatever work for you sounds fine to me

I've actually had similar reactions, but for my real first name, which is very unique especially for a woman (obv not my screen name!) It's memorable so I always pick a super generic name for which there are probably hundreds of women in my area who actually have that name. I cycle between 2-3 so they're pretty easy to remember at this point.

I have, however, been called out as a mystery shopper because the job required me to inquire about a product that wasn't allowed to be sold until the following day and the employees already knew that their distributor was hiring people to check and make sure they were following that rule. I reported the incident and I haven't seen the location listed since then so maybe people call out mystery shoppers in hopes that they will stop being sent?

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/05/2017 01:24AM by liz688.

I do a bank shop that has a minimum rotation of one year. Even then, I've had one or two bankers tell me that I look familiar and ask if I've been there before. You are required to use a different name every time, so I started out by using various combinations of my dad, brother, brother-in-laws, and nephews' first and last names. After I ran out of names, I started using combinations of friends' first and last names. Once, after introducing myself as 'Paul', the banker asked what my last name was. I blurted out the first name that came to mind, 'Simon'. I had a brief "Oh Crap" moment and joked with the banker that I wasn't THE Paul Simon.

The *one* bank shop I've done so far - there were at least 30 people in and around the bank that day. I was in shock. Both of my real banks - there was always several people in there when I was there. I have anecdotal evidence that suggests that banks see much more than 100 people a month.

@LisaSTL wrote:

When a lot of branches probably don't get more than 100 people over the course of an average month, how hard is it to recognize the same person with the same questions month after month?

Something is going on to have the client not give a rat's arse if their employees can spot the shopper and it is not mystery shopping.

Usually not for these shops. They give instructions on how to handle bankers who might remember you. I rotate banks, keep a book on who I spoke with, then if I might call the banker ahead of time with my burner flip phone. I won't go back to the same branch for the associate who remembers me.

I had an experience where the personal banker was explaining stuff to me. He wanted my name and insisted on it. I gave him a fake name and then said the three names with addresses that he gave to me was not me. He insisted on reading the entire product book at the beginning. i played the exasperated client who questioned why it was necessary. I finally got him to curtail his presentation.

In my experience as a mystery shopper, you are expendable. If you are recognized, you lose those opportunities. I would have loved to have written up his whole routine, but the MSC and client might see it was being outed. I could have broken the shop, acted like an indignant potential customer, and asked for a superior. It was a tight rope and I was proud of having navigated it. But I will not return to that branch for some time. I do 10-15 shops a month and do not want to lose the opportunity.

Interesting. Between a lot of bank shops and regular visits to branches of both of my banks, the inside rarely has more than one customer. One bank shop shocked me a few months ago because the bank probably had a dozen or more customers. It was an anomaly around here.

@leaiso wrote:

The *one* bank shop I've done so far - there were at least 30 people in and around the bank that day. I was in shock. Both of my real banks - there was always several people in there when I was there. I have anecdotal evidence that suggests that banks see much more than 100 people a month.

I'm an old fashion banker. I go to my own bank one or two times a week. I have done this for 30 years. Some of the branches think my brother, sister, mother live near by, we go out to lunch once a month. Most don't ask. I'm sure that some know I'm a shopper. As long as they do their job correctly they have no problem with me. I am a friendly, talkative person.

If you feel that you might be recognized as a shopper, just change the way you look. I have a closet of disguises. I make it fun. I dress differently. Sometimes I will dress up or dress down. I wear wigs to disguise my looks. I have red hair, brown hair, black hair, and gray hair. I wear glasses. One time I accidently wore sunglasses into a branch. I was glad I did because I was working with a banker that was in one branch on Thursday and went to a branch I was at on Friday. Close call. I am comfortable with my disguises. It works for me!

Rpattters777 - that sounds like fun

I many cases like those I am using only my first name. They never asked for my last name but in case if they will I am using the name different that that MS provided in instructions. I am sending scheduler the name I wish to use and they approve it before go.